Wauwatosa dining guide

Note: The contents of this guide were checked for accuracy when this article was updated on Oct. 12, 2018 at 9:02 a.m.
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Season's eatings! The weather may be getting colder, but Dining Month on OnMilwaukee is just cooking up, dishing out your winning picks in this year's Best of Dining poll. Dining Month is brought to you by Fein Brothers, your premier food service equipment and supply dealer in Wisconsin since 1929. Congratulations to all of the winners, and happy eating for all those who voted! See all the winners for the month so far here.

Wauwatosa's dining scene has evolved dramatically over the recent years, exploding with new options from the string of North Avenue eateries on the east to the options at the Mayfair Collection on the west and right down in the heart of the Village itself.

Here is an updated account of what this near-western suburb brings to the dining table. While this list doesn't cover every last eatery, it includes the newcomers as well as several perennial favorites.

AJ Bombers11340 W. Burleigh St., (414) 221-9999hospitalitydemocracy.com/aj-bombersGreat burgers and frozen custard are on tap at this second location of a favorite Downtown eatery. And, go ahead, throw those peanut shells on the floor.

Alioto's 3041 N. Mayfair Rd., (414) 476-6900 aliotos.net This family-owned American / Italian restaurant has been in its Wauwatosa location for more than 50 years. The Friday night fish fry is popular, but the entrée selections give it the feel of a chophouse.

BelAir Cantina6817 W. North Ave., (414) 988-8533belaircantina.comWith a large bar and a welcoming fountain patio – to say nothing of $2 tacos on Tuesdays and Thursdays – this BelAir location proved popular from the day it opened. The vibe is great, but BelAir doesn't take reservations, so on $2 nights and weekends, you might plan to have a margarita at the bar while you wait for your table.

Cafe Bavaria7700 Harwood Ave., (414) 271-7700cafebavaria.comA sister restaurant to Cafe Hollander, with which is shares some of its riverside patio, Cafe Bavaria has a German theme, natch, including pretzels, schnitzel, spatzle, sausages and more, served alongside some top-notch German beer. Brunch is served on weekends from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Cafe Grace11200 W. Burleigh St., (414) 837-6310cafegracemke.comWith a vibe straight outta Marais, and a menu to match, Cafe Grace is the perfect location for a special night out on Tosa's ouest side.

Colectivo Coffee 9125 W. North Ave., (414) 259-93836745 W. Wells St., (414) 453-4800colectivocofee.com If you're an Alterra fan, the menu here is familiar, with the usual assortment of coffee, tea and juices, alongside bakery items, salads and sandwiches and wraps. The Wells Street location has a fire pit that's popular all year 'round.

Cosmos Cafe7203 W. North Ave., (414) 257-2005cosmoscafewauwatosa.comLocated on the site of the former Barrie's Frozen Custard – a Tosa landmark for a couple generations – Cosmos offers great Greek food, fish fry, burgers and more – to enjoy in the small dining room or for carry-out.

Balistreri's Italian Restaurant 812 N. 68th St., (414) 475-1414balistreris.com Balistreri's is a local legend and its 'Tosa location is family-friendly with great, thin-crust pizza, cheese bread or spaghetti and meatballs. The other, larger location is just around the corner on 65th Street and Bluemound Road.

Blue's Egg 317 N. 76th St., (414) 299-3180 bluesegg.comBlue's Egg is one of the top brunch spots in Milwaukee. The menu features a blend of modern American items combined with old world ingredients. If you are headed to Blue's Egg try using the No Wait or Yelp App to check wait times and get put on the waiting list remotely.

Cafe Hollander7677 W. State St., (414) 475-6771cafehollander.comThis Tosa outpost of the local Hollander chain opens early seven days a week for breakfast and Sunday brunch and is open late as a bar, too. Enjoy your meal in the dining room or outdoors (in season) along the river. Expect a wide selection of European beers. And kids will like watching the trains go by.

China East 6810 W. State St.,(414) 456-9988Quick and easy Chinese food with the option for take out.

Chinese Pagoda 7200 W. North Ave., (414) 774-8400 The Chinese Pagoda and 'Tosa go way back. It's a small, quaint restaurant with reasonable prices and although some dishes cater to American tastes there is plenty for those who love Chinese and Chinese-American food.

City Market 8700 W. Watertown Plank Rd., (414) 479-0479thecitymarketcafe.com The café is attached to the Wisconsin Athletic Club and right on the County Grounds near Froedtert and Children's Hospitals and is a great place for breakfast or lunch, with a variety of coffee drinks to accompany bakery items, build-your-own sandwiches, soups and salads.

Colonel Hart's 7342 W. State St., (414) 476-3070colonelharts.com Treat yourself to a wide selection bar food – appetizers, pizzas, sandwiches, burgers and Friday fish fry – while catching the game on one of 10 plasma screen TVs. Wings are just 35 cents each on Thursdays.

Corner Bakery 11500 W. Burleigh St., (414) 476-2233 cornerbakerycafe.comCorner bakery started as a neighborhood bakery in Chicago, but has since expanded. However, when you go into Corner bakery you are still able to get fresh artisan bread sandwiches topped with fresh ingredients.

Cranky Al's6913 W. North Ave., (414) 258-5282crankyals.comCranky Al's is a West Side favorite for donuts and coffee in the morning and for pizza in the evenings. Rather than a traditional slice, pizza lovers can order the personal 10-in. pizza with any variety of toppings.

Eddie Martini's 8612 W. Watertown Plank Rd., (414) 771-6680eddiemartinis.com This is where fine dining meets old-school supper club. The breadth of experience and expertise at Eddie Martini's easily makes it perfect for everything from a business meeting to an intimate date night for two.

Firefly Urban Bar & Grill 7754 Harwood Ave., (414) 431-1444firefly-grill.com Firefly's menu features appetizers, sandwiches and entrees from its wood-burning grill and smoker, as well as microburgers, fondue and crunch salad. Don't miss out on the s'mores for dessert, which you get to make at table with a cute little personal grill.

George Webb6108 W. Bluemound Rd., (414) 453-239212201 W. North Ave., (414) 774-4377georgewebb.comGeorge Webb, a Milwaukee-area institution, likely needs no explanation here. Open 24 hours a day, you can grab a booth or belly up to the counter and enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner anytime of day.

Ginza Japanese Restaurant2727 N. Mayfair Rd., (414) 771-3333ginzawauwatosa.comDon't let the strip mall location fool you, Ginza is a great place to grab sushi or other Japanese dishes, like teriyaki, tempura, miso soup and other specialties. Smart folks grab a soft shell crab appetizer and the delectable Wauwatosa roll (when in Rome!) and smile all the way home.

Habanero's Mexican Kitchen 869 N. Mayfair Rd., (414) 607-9025habanerosmilwaukee.com Featuring an impressive array of authentic dishes served in a lively, welcoming atmosphere, this locally-owned restaurant provides a strong alternative for foodies who don't want to head to the South Side for their Mexican food fix. Be sure to take advantage of the fresh table-side guac.

Hector's 7118 W. State St., (414) 258-5600hectors.com This 'Tosa Village favorite is small and comfortable with an extensive menu that can please the meat eater and the vegetarian. Please don't forget to order a margarita.

Hue6519 W. North Ave., (414) 585-0577huerestaurants.comThis is the second location for Hue Vietnamese Restaurant, the first of which is located in Bay View. Delicious noodle dishes, pho and other Vietnamese specialties made from fresh ingredients are served in a simple, elegant – but casual – dining room. Warning, don't park in the lot to the west of you'll get ticketed. But don't worry, there's plenty of street parking out front.

Il Mito Enoteca 6913 W. North Ave., (414) 443-1414ilmito.com Il Mito serves fabulous northern Italian dishes along with a mix of Mediterranean and South American-styled entrees. Adjacent to the restaurant is Chef Michael Feker's School of Culinary Magic.

INNovation10499 W. Innovation Dr., (414) 259-0793crowneplazamilwaukee.com/dining.phpLocated in the Crowne Plaza West, this restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, in a nice dining room and on a patio with a fireplace. There's a fish fry on Fridays and brunch on Sundays, too.

Irie Zulu7237 W. North Ave., (414) 326-9251iriezulu.comA mix of African and Caribbean food results in one of the best new restaurants anywhere in the area. The small dining room is augmented by a little bar and a few sidewalk tables, too.

Jimmy's Island Grill & Iguana Bar2303 N. Mayfair Rd., (414) 837-2121jimmysislandgrill.comFamily friendly dining across from Mayfair Mall, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner in an island-themed atmosphere. Seafood, salads and sandwiches rule the menu, which also includes a variety of steaks, ribs and chicken. Enjoy the Tiki-ish patio when the weather cooperates.

Jose's Blue Sombrero7615 W. State St., (414) 453-2300josesbluesombrero.comThis multi-location Mexican eatery has replaced the long-lived Chancery location in the Village and has added some great outdoor seating. Don't miss the margaritas or the tableside guac service, both of which are Jose's highlights.

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